Australian Geoffrey Moyle admits to Cambodian child sex offences

Geoffrey Moyle, 46 from Adelaide, has admitted to 11 child sex offences against vulnerable children in Cambodia between 2002 and 2005. Sources say he began working for numerous NGO and AusAid contractors and programs in Cambodia in 2002.

The Australian Federal Police wrote in a statement in June, 2019, that the SA JACET received a referral from the Queensland Police Service identifying a user linked to an IP address in Adelaide allegedly posting child exploitation material on an image-hosting website.

The SA JACET commenced an investigation and executed a search warrant at a residential premise in the Adelaide suburb of Westbourne Park in May 2019. Police seized a USB allegedly containing child exploitation material and arrested a 46-year-old man.

The man’s identity was first kept secret but was revealed for the first time today by the popular English language website Cambodia News English.

James McCabe, the head of the Child Protection Unit (CPU) in Cambodia, told CNE “It is a credit to the SAPolice, FedPol and the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team that they were able to uncover the abuse that Moyle had inflicted over many years while working in a variety of positions. I am aware that investigations have been undertaken in regards to his activities while he was in and visiting Cambodia from 2002 to as recently as 2018. Cambodian authorities are cooperating with the investigation into Moyle.

It shows the commitment from all agencies including the Cambodians to combating and prosecuting person that abuse children no matter where you are from.”

In November, 2019, the CPU established an online group to combat any form of online child sexual exploitation and abuse named Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC). The group works in cooperation with the Cambodia National Police, McCabe wrote in a statement.

I note this chap has admitted his guilt to offences that occurred over a decade ago. On one hand, I am horrified that it took so long for the law to catch up with him. On the other hand, the relevant authorities have shown that they’re prepared to pursue child sex offenders no matter how long ago, or where, the offences took place. I take my hat off to the Cambodian and Australian authorities that brought this man to justice.